In granting the first
United States offshore lease for wind generation, Mr. Jerry Patterson,
Commissioner
of the
Texas General Land Office said, "Today is a new era for energy
development in America, and what better place to begin than in
Texas. Texas knows energy and we're ready to lead the nation towards
establishing
clean, reliable coastal wind power as an energy reality."

The multi-million
dollar lease, signed with Galveston-Offshore Wind (a division of
Wind Energy System Technology) allowed work to begin
on construction of two meteorological towers. The towers will gather
pertinent data for permanent placement of wind turbines on the
11,355 acre lease approximately 7 miles off the coast of Galveston,
Texas. "Coastal
wind power has come to the united States," Patterson said, "and
found a home in Texas."

Once completed, the offshore wind farm will produce
enough electricity to provide power to about 40,000 homes. By comparison,
an equal
amount of electricity would require about 20.7 million barrels
of oil, or
6.5 tons of coal to produce. By not burning these fossil fuels
to create this amount of energy, the wind farm will displace approximately
2.7
million tons of carbon dioxide each year. By comparison, it would
necessitate planting nearly 150 square miles of forests to achieve
the same goal.

"Wind power is clean and inexhaustible. Wind power reduces
our nation's dependence on imported oil and gas. Wind power is inflation
proof." Patterson
said. "The benefits are great and the drawbacks are few. This
is the right step for Texas and the nation."